HiResColour graphics - more than improved Timex, after years...

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MB03+Team

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Mar 17, 2021, 4:34:40 AM3/17/21

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Greetings to all MB03+ fans!

we are pleased to announce a new graphic mode for the ZX Spectrum, named HiResColour (HRC).

The HRC consist of 512*192 pixels. Moreover, every block of 8*4 pixels has its own attributes. This makes a screen with 64*24 chars and 64*48 attributes for standard (8 pixel wide and high) characters. The attribute format is common, the same as with 32*24 screen characters.

A HRC screen takes 12288 bytes (bitmap) plus 3072 bytes for attributes. A storage method of a HRC bitmap is linear, thus dealing with pixels is simple and more programming techniques and new tricks are possible (incl. Z80-DMA RAM-to-RAM transfers). Two HRC memory areas are available, starting at 16384 or 49152 (screen memory banks no. 5 and 7 on ram-paging models). Both areas can be used together in GigaScreen and KeyLayer (with a transparent colour) modes.

Besides the MB03+, the HRC is currently implemented in the eLeMeNt ZX computer, However, it was designed to be included easily into any modern ULA replacement and is compatible with the ULA+.

Test a new look of zx-screens with the HRC (BASIC) PRINT driver (download), allowing to use a HRC printing in programs also with alternative fonts. Detailed instruction is included in the download.

We hope more HRC compatible software is coming. The electronic magazine Subliminal Extacy #4 has been released in a special "_512" version for your MB03+.